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What To Look For When Hiring A Web Designer

Choosing a web designer for your business is like a first date. Don't believe me, read this blog on how to hire the right web designer for your company.

Here is a “Taxi Cab Confession”—I’ve spent a good amount of my life perusing (stalking) online dating sites. After a lot, and I mean A LOT of trial and error — I could tell the difference between a real profile and a fake profile. (Profiles consisting of models with a fictitious Gmail account scribbled on their pics. Yes, I’m the Sherlock Holmes of Match.com)

Nonetheless, after a significant amount of emails, phone calls, and first-dates — you deduce who are the one’s looking for the “real thing”, and those who are simply bored by life and trying something new.

And eventually I was able to determine the “good ones” from the “I’m going to boil your bunny if you don’t respond to my 93 text messages…ones”

While this may seem on the surface to be a farfetched comparison to shopping for a new web designer, it really isn’t.

The world of web design can be quite financially lucrative. And while creating a website has been significantly simplified in recent years. The goal posts continue to be moved in regards to effectively optimizing your site.

Or, to put it bluntly, you have a new website. Great. It looks like shit, navigating through it is comparable to using MapQuest. It’s not mobile friendly. And lastly, no one knows it even exists.

So, the purpose of this post is to give you a few quick tips on what to look for when searching for a web designer. These tips come straight from the mouth of Jon Gicewicz, owner and chief designer for JEG DESIGN INC. A web and graphic design company that has not only created a massive amount of website and graphic designs for its clients over the years. He’s also had to fix his fair share of websites and graphic designs by those who were “bored with life and thought this would be fun”.

First, if your prospective web designer doesn’t have Google Reviews — It’s as big of a “red flag” as a girl with her profile picture flipping someone off or a guy shirtless washing his Prius.

Google reviews are essential for business these days. Don’t get me wrong, maybe their clients haven’t taken the time to create one for them. Hey, it happens. But why? [ ASK 4 BUZZ ]

If you’re a business, especially one in a digital world, one surviving off of “word of mouth”, and one that better damn well understand the importance of Google reviews — how could you not, at the least, have A Google review? [ ASK 4 BUZZ ]

If they don’t have any Google Reviews, look for any reviews. And if they don’t have ANY reviews — well, next! [ ASK 4 BUZZ ]

Let’s pretend they do have reviews. This is where you get to have some fun and you…

Contact Their Clients

For some, this may be a little uncomfortable. For some, this is what you live for. Unless this proprietor is a direct competitor — business owners typically love speaking to other business owners. Hell, this is why there are so many Chambers of Commerce and other variations of business owner meetup groups. AKA: Therapy sessions.

Here are some questions for you to ask them about the web designer:

• What are they like to work with?• Are they transparent in their process?• Do they accept criticism well?• What is their response time like?• Are they a “bullshitter” who tells you one thing and then does the complete opposite?

You’re ultimately feeling out what a relationship would be like with them. Hmmm…Kinda like dating.

Trust me, if there was a way I could have contacted some of the previous suitors to a few of the ladies I’ve dated — I wouldn’t have found myself shacking up with the carbon copy of “Gone Girl” on more than one occasion.

Lastly, and probably the most important thing you can/should do…

Check Out Their Work

I didn’t mention this first because it’s without question the most obvious while being the most important. You have to love what they do. Love their style. Love their track record. If they have reviews, go to the reviewer’s site. If this is a positive, glowing review — check out what they (the designer) did for them (the client). If you think the site sucks while the client gushed about how amazing they were to work with…They’re probably a friend or relative.

Think of if this way, I’m sure there are some players who were coached under the tutelage of some hardasses. Yet they won championships. I’m fairly confident not everyone who played for Bill Belichick would profess him being sensitive to the emotional struggles of his players. No, they won championships. And they would all give up their right arm and first-born for the chance to play for him.

So, make sure this designer has work which is exceptional and aligns with what you’re trying to do. This is YOUR business. While some of you may be doing this as a side gig to fill time in your life, many of you are trying to create a beast. To be a massive success in your industry, hire the designer who will help you do just that!

Conclusion

It’s one thing to have the trophy girlfriend/boyfriend, but you’re looking to build something which will grow and provide your life success and fulfilment.

Take time. Do the work. Don’t be in a rush. For the love of everything pure and holy, don’t be in a rush.

There was one last thing I didn’t mention, and it’s completely up to you (you should do this) — call them.

Talk to the designer. I remember doing all this legwork when trying to meet someone online. E-mails were exchanged, check out their Facebook, their Instagram. Got a good feel for who they were. Asked if they’d be willing to have a phone call and they would say no. Then, then we’d go have a first date. Not once did any of these girls and I have a second date.

Matter of fact, there were a couple times when I actually did have a conversation with a gal and then decided against moving forward. And vice versa. Girls would talk to me and realize I was too — well... I don’t shut up. Hence my love of writing. I always said, writing is me sharing my thoughts and opinions without giving you a chance to speak.

Moral being — maybe you’ll realize this person just doesn’t communicate the way you wish they would. And who knows, the designer may determine you to be too “high maintenance” for them.

Keith has over a 11 years of copywriting experience and has been blogging for companies in the advertising, design, boating, and marketing industry. For examples of his work or to contact him with any questions, please email Keith at [email protected]